Faced with a playground project for a school, HOA, church, child center? It is very normal to jump in and start a wish
list, and move right into shopping mode! We get it, commercial equipment is cool stuff
to look at and dream about! A word of caution
at this point of your research! Take
your time to understand the cost behind commercially produced equipment. There
are very good reasons why it is much more expensive than residential items
intended for your kids and backyard.

Why is commercial
playground equipment more expensive than residential items? It helps to
understand commercial equipment must meet rigorous safety and government
standards; serve 100’s of kids playing on it daily for years, several decades
in most instances, and ultimately be safe during the entire life of the
equipment. Comparing residential equipment to commercial equipment is “apples
to oranges”; not the same thing. Yet,
there are ways to greatly reduce your overall costs of these projects, and
avoid sticker-shock in the end! 

Look for Sales

Equipment
distributors have “specials” or sales or temporary discounts, which reduce equipment cost considerably. Sales can be the
result of too much inventory, or even special pricing from a manufacturer to
distributors. Discounts can vary from 5 percent or as high as 50 percent; Also
look for the occasionally freebie item when you buy certain items. ALWAYS ask
your dealer/distributor if they have any sales that are not on their website.

Use the Same Playground Equipment Distributor

It’s tempting to buy from more than one playground equipment
distributor, keep in mind this can cost more money than using a single
company like Noah’s Park & Playgrounds. Why? When equipment ships from multiple companies you can end up paying more for shipping
fees and added freight. Also, watch for differences in delivery dates
between manufacturers, which could result in possible installation delays by weeks or even months.

Get Installation Help from Your Community

Getting volunteer labor from your community is an excellent way to save on
installation costs, which often takes a huge chunk out of any budget. In
addition to our full, turnkey installation services, Noah’s offers the option
of using one of our four CPSI Certified staff members for a supervised install with your volunteer
crew. This installation alternative works well if you get labor from a good
crew of volunteers and pair them along with our CPSI supervisors, to save and stretch
your budget. 

Find Package Deals

Noah’s Park & Playground always tries to offer amazing “saving money” opportunities with our Playground Packages. Since 2016 we have added more than 25 different playground packages starting as low as $8,000, which will hopefully fit your playground site and budget. Buying equipment in a package or “bundle” can save thousands on any playground budget. All our playground packages include a playground structure, swings, spring rider, border timbers and an ADA ramp. 

Make Site Amenities ‘Phase Two’ purchases

Of course, you’ll need a few basic amenities, to give parents,
teachers and other caregivers a place to sit down and relax while
children play. However, equipment such as benches, trash receptacles, tables, shades and even bike racks can increase your budget. A good approach is to think about making these purchases later, or phasing in the cost into the next fiscal year.

Take Advantage of Fundraising

In many cases, the budget for commercial playgrounds comes from capital
funds, meaning that there’s a limit on what you can spend because a time-frame
is involved in meeting these objectives. One the best ways to stretch your
playground budget is by taking advantage of fundraising. Some of the most
common types of fundraising ideas include raffles, rebates, website affiliate
programs, golf tournaments, aquatic races, book fairs, community garage sales,
auctions and other events. Noah’s can even help
by providing poster type images to show your community during your fundraising
events or efforts.

Equipment Lease/Purchase = Immediate Equipment

Commercial playground equipment is costly. If fundraising efforts look
like they could take months or years to happen, seriously consider
lease/purchase financing equipment. Noah’s Park and Playgrounds works closely
with Marlin Equipment Financing to secure low rates and short-term financing. A
lease-purchase on equipment allows almost immediate purchase, cash-flow savings,
and in many instances keeps you from the headache of months of fundraising
efforts!

Are you planning a commercial playground? Maybe you need help with
stretching your playground budget, which is a service we provide. Call the
commercial playground specialists at Noah’s Park and Playgrounds. As a highly
experienced and skilled park and playground site dealer, with over 90+ years of combined playground industry experience between our staff, we work with churches, daycare centers, HOAs, schools, municipalities and other clients
needing commercial playground equipment. Please contact us and find out more
about our many products and services.